Back in the Game

So, I have been out of commission the last few days, but I am almost back to feeling 100% and starting to get back into my routine.

Being sick really stunk.  But looking back over the past week, I realized that it was a way for my body to tell me that I needed a break.  I needed to rest, I needed to stay home, I needed to catch up on  all my shows and empty my DVR, I needed to think but most importantly, I needed to use all of the Kleenex's in my house.

All joking aside, I think my body is now recharged.  All of the mucus is now out of my sinus cavity and my coughing has stopped.   Good thing, because I would have to have to resort to using toilet paper for blowing my nose.  

And even though I did have to work a few hours from home on Thursday and Friday, I feel that I was able to get the much needed rest that my body had been screaming for.    

I want to thank ya'll for the well wishes, text messages and even the visit from the Panera fairy.  Let's just say I was well fed on Friday and very grateful for two meals that I did not have to make.

But I am ready to face life again.   I went back to work yesterday and survived the returning of emails and phone messages.   And I was able to tackle the rest of the back log of mail today.  So I am now current at work and back into the swing of things.

Including my nightly workouts.   Yesterday, I started small and just took a brisk around the neighborhood and tonight the Wii and I had a little fun sweating it out.

Tomorrow, it is back in the fitness center with a co-worker or two.   Time to get ready for bathing suit season, oh, yeah, that's right, that time has past.   So maybe it is time to get ready for heavy and thick beer season.   And all of that yummy fall food.

Oh, I don't want to think about that.  I just want to enjoy my beer on the back patio while listening to the bugs (and the sirens in the distance - the fire/ems station isn't that far away).

And and most importantly, I am back in the game.  Back in the social scene.  Back to figuring how what life is all about.

Goodbye July hello August

Wow, it is already August, well technically, it's August 11th.  So where did the first 11 days go? Or better yet, where the heck did my summer go?  Oh, I know, it flew by.   And I don't really feel like I have been able to enjoy it.  Now don't get me wrong.  I got to go to the beach twice and the mountains too, but those were just weekend trips.   Since it is the busiest time for me at work, summer's are always tough.  I am discouraged from taking a lot of time off from work, but this summer has been a lot tougher.  So I really don't get a summer vacation.   And this summer my workload is a lot different and I was needed more at the office.

Hopefully, what I have named the organized chaos will start to calm down.   Summer camp season is ending, kids are going back to school, facilites are shutting down, all signs of a calmer desk.

But I have made a decision, even with busy work days still on the horizon, I need to start having a little fun.  With the start of August, ok so 11 days into a new month, my goal is to work on living life again.

I am going to do a much better job of trying to leave work at work and focus on living life afterwards.  I miss my friends.  I miss smiling and I miss having fun.

I want to take an adventure.  I want to spend time outdoors.   I want to try new wines, new beer and maybe make some new friends.

So, this pass week, I think I did a really good job.   I caught up with some old friends, made a few new ones, went to a charity event, hung out at a brewery (Thanks Redwoods Claims Crew) and got much better at my workout regime.

My social calendar still has lots of openings.   Let me know what you are up to.  Maybe I will just join in on the fun.

Happiness

So the other day a co-worker stopped me in the middle of the walkway at the office and asked how was I doing.  I gave my candid response of I'm good.   Then she looked at me again and asked how I really felt because she said that I did not look happy and haven't looked happy now for a few weeks.

I then pulled her aside and talked to her a little bit about what was going on at my desk at work along with a few other things.  She later made a lunch date with me for this week.

That conversation got me thinking.   I haven't been very happy lately and I am not really sure why.

There is a lot going on at work and at home.   I have been doing two jobs, I have had ant problems, I have been having really bad headaches, I have been really tired (this heat is not helping) and I am just burned out.

So this weekend, I decided that I needed to change.   I needed a new outlook.  I needed to be happy.  

I started with a dinner out with two of my dearest friends to our favorite restaurant.   Where we enjoyed a nice bottle of wine, played a game of rock paper scissors to decide what entrees to order, took a rickshaw to a yogurt place, got caught in the rain going out for after dinner/dessert drinks and even crashed a nice couple's date night.  It was just a night of laughter, food and fun.

And it made me happy.

Then on Sunday, I was back teaching in my kindergarten class at The Summit Church.   Now don't get me wrong, I had my hands full with the class and they were crazy, but I loved it.  Two of the little girls even told me how much they have missed me the past two months.  

And that made me happy.

And today, after putting in a full day at the office, I donned by workout clothes and hit the fitness center.   While working out, I watched men's beach volleyball.

And that made me happy.  Not just the men on the screen but the sweat that poured out of my body.

So I have a new goal.  I know that there are going to be days when it will be hard to find something to make me happy.  But I am going to try really hard.

Maybe tonight, it will be a smoothie or a hot bubble bath.   Maybe even Goodberry's.  I did work out, so I deserve a little treat.

Who knows, but one thing for sure..... it is time to concentrate on the learning to laugh part of my transformation.

A little help.......

So I know that it has been forever since I have written a post.  I am not really sure why.  It partially has to do with the fact that I have been really busy lately, but it may also have to do with the fact that I really haven't felt like writing much.

This is the busiest time of the year for my department at work, so a lot of times when I get home, I just want to pour myself a glass of wine or open an beer and just sit and be still and quiet.   Looking at multiple computer monitors and talking on the phone all day long can be draining.  Plus I have been having to do two jobs since the beginning of July.  Long story that I don't want to get into right now.

But today while I was reading a message from a friend who is going through the same journey as me, it made me think about all of the other people that I know that are struggling with the end of a marriage, a divorce and then starting the process of getting back in the saddle so to speak.

And it made me realize that there are people out there just like me.  They have been there and they have done that.   They have gone through it or are going through it now.  

I felt honored that my friend was asking my opinion.  She wanted to know my thoughts and she wanted a little insight.   And I was glad that I was able to tell her what I think.  Now, I am no therapist nor do I claim to have all of the answers.  But I can and did give a little insight.  I can say that it gets better.  I can say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  And I can say that you can and will find love again.  

So as my journey continues I want to leave you with this:

You never know what someone else is thinking or going through.  Don't be afraid to reach out.  Don't be afraid to offer advice or help.  But most importantly, don't forget to ask.   You never know.  Someone else may be or has gone through the same thing and maybe able to help.  

Time Flies When You are Having Fun

So I can't believe that it is June.  And I know, it has been over a month since I last posted an entry.  Life has been a little busy.  Plus every time I sit down to write, I can't think of anything to say.  Call it writers block, call it I have too much stuff going through my head right now that I don't know what to say, call it being lazy, or you call it I just haven't wanted to share it yet.  I will let you pick.

So in the past month, I have seen a broadway play, gone to baseball games (both professional - well minor leagues-  and college), had a few dinners out, went to the beach, went to the movies, went to a party, saw a friend get installed as a pastor, volunteered, and welcomed a friend's baby into the world (make that two babies).

No wonder I haven't written anything.  Plus most of the time that I usually spend writing, I have been spending either praying or thinking.  Mainly while enjoying a glass wine on my patio.  The weather has been beautiful lately and I have been taking advantage of the quiet patio.   Just like now, I am sitting listening to the birds chirp (at laughing at Calvin as he sits in the window sill and meows at the birds).  I think that the birds are taunting him.

I have been thinking a lot about my future and what I want that to look like.   I have been thinking about who I want to be in my life and what kind of lifestyle do I want.

I have been thinking about what true love actually is.

For now, I am going to keep a lot of the details to myself.  But I promise to share any exciting news or changes in my life when the time comes.

Until then, I encourage you to take some time out of your busy day and just be still.  You will be amazed what you can learn in the quiet and stillness.